I will get things done for America -to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.

​​...I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

As soon as the team arrived in Texas we were ready to get to work and eager to see what the Fuller Center had prepared for us. It was understood that organization might be chaotic for some time as some of the staff at Fuller Center recently shuffled around, but we were ready for whatever was thrown at us. Our first day of work we were split into two teams, half staying at our accommodation, a home that was recently renovated by the Fuller Center Volunteers, and half were sent a few blocks away to "Palm House" now more commonly "Leo's House".

CTI ended, teams were picked, all 250(ish) of us were inducted and suddenly it was time to go. I knew for weeks that I'd be heading to Texas to assist with disaster rebuild on damaged homes from Hurricane Harvey, but only once we started packing our bags did it become real. After so many weeks in Denver, sitting at a conference table, listening to lectures on safety, vehicle and tool use, leadership styles, conflict resolution, critical incidents and the list goes on, I had almost forgot we were preparing to deploy for something bigger. My team had our bags packed early and were one of the first ready to hit the road, but unfortunately, had to wait for the others. We had an all corps 'send off' at 8 am, a few quick words from our Unit Leaders and the Regional Director, and then it was finally time to go, ready for a 2 day, 16+ hour road trip to Southern Texas.

After weeks of living with our hundreds of roommates, cooking together, attending training, completing physical training and serving together, it was time to pick our permanent teams for round 1. I had a good idea from early on of who I wanted on my team, and had a handful approach me about the topic. It was hard to narrow down the list, considering who would work well together while not dividing themselves from the rest of the group, what personalities wouldn't clash too hard, and also balancing ages and genders. Not only that but the other TLs would likely overlap wants with my own, but thankfully Earth Unit was made up from so many strong individuals that I didn't doubt my team wouldn't be great.

Aside from all of the lectures, power points, discussions and team builders we did have a few opportunities to get out of the ‘classroom’. Our first weekend together the unit assistance had helped to set up a service day for all of the corps members. It was both a good opportunity to get off campus and also get to know our corps members in a different environment. Water and Fire units were headed downtown to work on flower bed removal and mulching while Earth unit traveled only a few miles from campus to Planes Conservation Center to help them with a few different projects. The specifics of the day weren’t 100 percent clear before we had left campus, but we were prepared for whatever they threw at us.

A Year of Service

My life, being anything but predictable, has taken another turn. Rather than moving to Jeju, South Korea - my original plan for Fall '18, I'm going to test drive Denver, CO and its surroundings, an area people just keep telling me "I'd love".